The Monday Roundup: Does marijuana make streets safer? & more

Amsterdam June 1-98

Yet another lesson from Amsterdam?
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland)

Today’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by Portland real estate broker Leigh Perretta. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Leigh wants to show prospective home buyers a “love nest” in Linnton between the St. Johns bridge and Sauvie Island with river and mountain views that’s “just minutes from the City’s best cycling.” Contact Leigh via email for a private showing.

And now, here are the bike links from around the world that caught our eyes this week:

How to cut traffic deaths: Legalize weed — or so claims a study last year from the University of Chicago, which considers evidence that people replace drinking with smoking.

Natural traffic calming: Today seems like the day to spot and share local sneckdowns, those icy promontories that show where cars don’t need to be able to go.

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700c Breezer Downtown EX 2013

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Year: 2013
Brand: Breezer
Model: Downtown EX
Color:700c
Size:Sage
Serial: SICBI12R00610
Photo: http://clevercycles.com/2013-breezer-downtown-ex
Stolen in Beaverton, OR 97005
Stolen:2014-02-8
Stolen From: 4200 SW 107th Ave Apt 102. Canyon Park Apartments.
Neighborhood: Beaverton – Canyon and Hwy 217
Owner: Roxanne Nichols
OwnerEmail: newdragon113(A T)gmail.com
Description: Matching sage fenders, rear rack. Red spray painted stencils on frame
Police record with: Beaverton PD
Police reference#: 14-502049
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Riding the icestorm in Portland: A few tips

My snow bike

My chosen tool for bike fun today.

With the City of Portland and other agencies telling everyone to stay indoors due to the sheet of ice that has blanketed our town, I couldn’t wait to leave the house this morning and see if I could still ride a bike.

So, I went out to my shed, pulled down my mountain bike and headed out. Turns out it’s not as bad as I expected. That being said, if you do plan to play around the neighborhood on your bike today, here are a few tips to consider.

  • The bike I’m using is a 29-inch mountain bike with 2.2-inch knobby tires. Either a similar mountain bike or a fat bike is highly recommended.
  • Lower your tire pressure to get more traction. Less air means more of the rubber and knobs on your tires will come in contact with the ground. More contact the better.

    • Read more

Snowstorm updates and open thread

Phillip Ross knows how to take
advantage of a snow day.
(Photo courtesy Phillip Ross)

Snow! It’s everywhere and it keeps coming down! I know many folks in other parts of the country more accustomed to snow are laughing at us; but here in Portland the amount of accumulation we’re seeing is pretty rare. It’s stayed cold and dry enough for several days that the entire city is covered in several inches.

To us, this is sort of a big deal.

Parks and streets have been transformed into winter wonderland scenes and with the weekend upon us, and many events cancelled (including The Worst Day of the Year Ride, see below), people are getting as much snow-play in as they can. And for many of you, that means biking. Very fun biking.

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‘Worst Day of the Year Ride’ cancels completely on account of weather (updated)

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First snow day of 2014-25

A rider on the street Thursday.
(Photo by J.Maus/BikePortland

Update: The Worst Day Ride’s organizers said Saturday that they’ve canceled Sunday’s event completely (making various earlier misreports about the cancellation retroactively accurate, I suppose). People who’d bought places in the ride will get automatic entry in next year’s.

As of Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service expects another 4 to 8 inches of snow to fall by Sunday afternoon, plus freezing rain and ice in some areas, on top of the three to five inches that fell Friday and continued to pile up Saturday.

Here’s the announcement from their site:

Alas, Mother Nature wins this round. We have been forced to cancel the event, or more accurately, postpone for one year. Worsening weather conditions and a forecast of freezing rain tomorrow make for unsafe conditions.

Your safety and the safety of our support staff is our number one concern, and conditions have dictated that it would be nearly impossible to guarantee the well being of everyone during this event.

We appreciate your understanding of this decision and want to thank you for your support by guaranteeing your entry into next year’s Worst Day of the Year Ride.

In its voicemail message Saturday, Good Sport Promotion said an email in the next week will contain instructions on how to claim next year’s ride. It didn’t mention whether cash refunds will be available on request.

Our original Thursday night post follows.

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White Scattante Americano 2012

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Year: 2012
Brand: Scattante
Model: Americano
Color:White
Size:49
Photo: http://imgur.com/WDs9KW7
Stolen in Portland, OR 97209
Stolen:2014-01-24
Stolen From: In front of Ruby Receptionists in bike parking on NW Lovejoy and NW 13, around the corner from the Safeway in the Pearl District
Neighborhood: Pearl District
Owner: Crystal McGrath
OwnerEmail: gustafzire(at sign)gmail.com
Reward: $25
Description: Bike had green handlebar tape and a green seat. Was upgraded with a black rear 36h velocity deep v laced to a blue sturmey archer s3x hub with black dual butted spokes and black nipples. Also had the drop handlebar 3 speed shifter. Also had clear éclat pedals and white matching aluminum fenders.
Police record with: Portland Police Bureau
Police reference#: T14000882
This registrant has documented proof of ownership of this bike

Snow Day ride report: Friday, February 7th (Photos)

Snow day 2-7-14-3

This woman had reason to smile. The sun popped out and the roads were nearly empty in and around downtown as she rode over the Burnside Bridge.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

With yesterday’s storm finishing up over night, we woke up to several inches of snow covering Portland streets. Before the next storm makes it way to us something this evening, I headed out today to see what was going on.

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The Friday Profile: Brandon Rhodes, Lents’ new bike-powered grocer

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Brandon Rhodes’ new business will deliver $20 in organic produce to Lents homes once a week.
(Photos by M.Andersen/BikePortland)

By 2020, Brandon Rhodes predicts and hopes, Lents will finally have a grocery store.

For now, it’s got him and his bike trailer.

Thirty years old, with six of them spent in the Lents intentional community he helped organize in 2008, this cussing Christian with a Ph.D in ministry is launching his first business: Rolling Oasis, a weekly produce delivery service that’s “ending the Lents food desert one bike ride at a time.”

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Jobs of the Week

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Want to work for one of the hottest local bike companies? How about getting your foot in the door of a highly respected local bike shop? Learn more about both of these opportunities posted to our Job Listings this week. Check out all the details via the links below…

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Riders brave severe winter storm (Photos)

First snow day of 2014-17

Conditions were tricky on the Hawthorne Bridge, with some people opting to walk their bikes.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

What happens to all of Portland’s bike riders when the worst snow storm in years hits the area? I was curious too so I spent a few hours out there with my camera tonight.

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Comparing language in winter traffic advisories from PBOT and ODOT

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Are all road users equally served by traffic advisories?

We think the words people use say a lot about their perspectives and priorities. That’s why I always enjoy reading traffic advisories and press releases from our local transportation agencies.

When it comes to severe weather warnings, I have communicated directly with both the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) that their statements should not ignore the fact that many people in this region ride bicycles in winter. Yes, even when it snows and rains.

So, with this week’s big snowstorm on its way, I sat back and waited to see how each agency would handle the inevitable bad weather road advisories. I’m happy to report, that while not perfect, both agencies have improved a lot in recent years! Let’s start with ODOT…

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From the Archives

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